Joy, delight and glee - sheer fun - cheers the heart. To live fully, we should be free to follow our own ideas of joyful existence. The simplest pleasures, shared joys or extreme gladness, can transport us into other worlds. There, hearts thump, happiness reigns, ecstasy is contagious and laughter is free. What a lark!
Mary Card, unknown photographer, about 1917. Courtesy: Barbara Ballantyne.
1861-1940
... as a result of the tremendous crop of correspondence the 'Journal' has brought me, I have come into touch with women in very lonely places, where crochet has been a real joy. Many of them work beautifully, and are quite eager to get fresh patterns ...
... though this heavy correspondence has added greatly to my work, it has made me a very happy woman, proving as in no other possible way, that I have been working on right lines ...
Mary Card, 1917
Victorian-born Mary Card is best remembered for her crochet designs, widely published between 1909 and the 1930s. She spent her early life as a writer and teacher until growing deafness forced a change of career.
Turning to designing crochet, she submitted her patterns first to America's Ladies Home Journal and later to Australian women's journals. Through these and other publications, she reached a global audience, enjoying great popularity. Her patterns varied considerably: from ambitious peacock bedspreads to simpler fruit-themed doyleys, from the Statue of Liberty to gum leaf patterns. They connected her to women in distant places and she spoke about how rewarding it was to have such an impact on women's lives.
Visit the Eternity gallery to view a tea cosy made to one of Mary Card's patterns and discover the joy she took in her work. During your visit take the opportunity to record your own story of joy.
Peter Cundall and the joys of gardening
Peter Cundall. Photo: unknown. Courtesy: Peter Cundall.
Born 1927
Peter Cundall has provided joy to countless Australians. A pioneer of gardening radio programs and the host of the very successful and long-running ABC television series Gardening Australia, Peter is one of Australia's most successful and well-known media personalities. Peter is also a prolific writer, a tireless campaigner for environmental issues and a passionate advocate for people growing their own vegetables in their own backyards.
Peter's Eternity story explores his childhood and other aspects of his life through the sheer joy of gardening.
Nova Peris was the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, as a member of the Hockeyroos team at Atlanta in 1996. She is also one of only a few athletes who have represented their country in two different sports and separate Olympic Games, having reached the semi final of the 400m track event at Sydney in 2000.
The story focuses on the joy Nova derived from participating in a team sport, and her joy and satisfaction at winning an Olympic gold medal. It features the hockey shoes she wore when the Hockeyroos won gold at the Atlanta Olympics.
Junius W Schomberg and the joys of a missionary
1891-1936
The Reverend Junius W. Schomberg was an Anglican missionary based at St Paul's on Moa Island in the Torres Strait in the 1920s and 1930s. Passionate and committed to his work and family, he was also a resourceful and talented carpenter and gardener. His son recently donated the gramophone Junius made from silky oak in 1934. Junius used a large shell as an amplifier, making this a unique object.
Using Junius' extensive writings and photographs, the story explores the delight he took in his work, his broader interests and his family's life as part of a remote community.
The Wiggles and the joys of performing
Formed 1991
The joy experienced by children. Toot toot chugga chugga big red car. The Wiggles have donated four of their colourful T-shirts for display. As well as delighting the tots and providing fabulous public program opportunities, we hope this story will introduce the notion of nostalgia for older children.
Stories no longer on display
Adi Dunlop
Joy brought by the Beanie Festival and creating beanies (2000s)
GeekGirl
Joys of the Internet and cyberspace (1990s)
Gwen Meredith
Joy brought to the country by Blue Hills radio show (1940s-1976)
Heather Rose
Australian film industry and joy of personal expression (1990s)
Marian Knight
Joy given by May Gibbs' stories and illustrations (1950s-60s)
Roy Rene
Joy of the vaudeville (1930s-40s)
Susan Pfanner
Joy of conception through IVF and birth of child (1980s-today)
Victor Trumper
Joy of spectators in the feats of sportspeople (1900s)
